The Washington critic., 1887-01-18
wAsurSorox, JANUARY IS, 1887.
AN ArnII INAUGURATION.

the Senate at It's last session for chang.
ing Inauguration day from the fourth
of March to the last Tuesday In April,
Is antagonized in the House by joint
resolution providing that the Firticth
Congress shall terminate on the 3lst Of
December, 1883, and the Fifty.iirst
Congress lhereupon commence, all
futu meetings Of Congress TO begin
on the second Tuesday In January OF
each year In other words, the Senate
resolution substitutes the lust Tues lay
in April ns the ddlc for the commence
ment and termination of the official
term OF the President Senators aud
Representatives, Will, the House reso.
luton fixes the second Tuesday in
January instead pf the first Monday in
December as the time for the as.
sembling of Congress.
The attention Of the public was
called TO this matter a day or two ago
by Mr.. llora'io King, ina l,,ter to The
WAsuuNGToN Cmrrc, who has taken
great interest in the proposed change,
and as n simple way oul Of the dill
Guilty liable TO he occasioued By these
conflicting resolutions. he makes the
very fair ami simple suggestion that
the house amend the Senate resolu
iion by providing that the change of
the time for the meeting Of Congress
from December TO January shall not
be made until after the last Tuesday in
April, 1850. In that case the Fiftieth
Congress, instead of having Its term
cut short, would continue. together
with the present Administration, until
the new Inauguration day, and the
Fifty.irst Congress hold from the see.
ond Tuesday in January, 1890, until
the last Tuesday In April, 1891.
The House would have to conceie
nothing excepting that portion of Its
resolution relating to the meeting of
the first session of the Fifty.first Con.
grcss, and in view of the Importance
of taking immediate action on the
question, 1t would seem as il this con.
ccssion should readily he made There
is not that material difference between
the two Houses to warrant any con.
troversy, and least of all any delay.
Senate and House are alike convinced,
no doubt, that change should be made
in the day of the Presidential inaugura.
tion, and in view of the fact that the
Centennial of the Constitution is to be
celebrated in April 1889, there is an
obvious proprlety in combining with
this event, the incoming Of the new
Administration and the swearing in
of the new President, au even hundred
years from the day on which the Illus.
trlous first President took the oath of
Office. If the change is ever TO be
made, 1t ought to be made now, to take
effect on the seth Of April, 1889, which
will be the last Tuesday Of the month
in that year; and there are State legis.
latures enough now In session to rllify
by the prescribed majority the Consti-
tutional amendment through which the
change has TO he effected.
1t seems waste Of words TO mention
again, or ever to have mentioned at all,
the climatic reasons for deicrriug to a
later period in the spring the public out
door cercmonals attending the inaugl.
ration of a President OF the United
States. There have been some very
delightful Fourths of March, there
have also been severely inclement
ones, rendering the occasion an utter
failure as popular festivity and an IN.
pleasant remembrance for all time to
come. There are no such chances TO
be taken in the latter part of April,
1t is also to be borne in mind that
each recurring Inauguration hence
forth is destined to call together greater
and still greater assemblagcs Of the
people. The facilities of trausporta-
lion arc such that the whole country
can he represented by vast delegations
and at moderate individual expense
at these great National events; and 1t is
duty which Congress owes to its
millions of constituents TO provide that
their quadrennia gatherings to do
honor 10 their chosen Chief Magistrate
be ordered for that inviting season OF
the year which the propitious fates
seem to have originally intended, and
the symmetry of history requires.
PRESIDENT ADAMS of the Unior
Pacific Railway Company seems not in
The least disconnected by the recent
publication of forgotten scandals o
ancient history" Ne be calls them, con
cerning the management Of his road
On the contrary, he invites the fules
investigation, coupled only with tn,
condition that lObe entrusted to men o
character, standing and intelligence
"What the Union Pacific does objec
TO, lie says, "is that delay which viii
keep it and It's securities in position
to be banded TO aud fro between Wal
street and Washington, the prey OF in
triguers and SPECTATORS. In this Mr.
Adams talks like man Of thorough
business sagacity, and Congress owe
II to the Government, as the Unioi
Pacilc's largest creditor to respond II
the same prompt and business-lik
spirit.
THE deposition Of Dr. Edward Nc
GIynn, pastor of 81. stephen S Church
New York, has provoked storm o.
indignant and rebelllous sympathy
on the part of his parlshloners, among
whom he has labored so long, They
held large meeting at the church las
evening, at which II was resolved Z
contribute nothing towards its supper